Aquaguard Waterproofing "The Trusted Name in Waterproofing " Quality basement repair company in the area that has earned the reputation as "The Trusted Name in Waterproofing" We offer no obligation basement inspections and analysis. We are the area's certifed waterproofing. Aquaguard has serviced the region for more than 30 years. Based in Beltsville, MD, Aquaguard has thousands of satisfied customers in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia. Aquaguard's experience has shown that no two problems are the same. With a company-wide commitment to high quality workmanship and customer satisfaction, our primary goal is to solve your specific problem. Our inspection will involve a thorough examination of your foundation inside and out. We will explain the cause of your water problem, what can be done to correct it permanently and leave you with a free estimate. We also install Egress Windows. We employ the most experienced construction professionals in the waterproofing business and utilize time tested methods to solve basement water problem
Business highlights
34 years of trusted experience
Emergency Services Offered
Services we offer
Residential and commercial egress window installation, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, sump pump, battery back up systems, excavating, stairwell & drains. Special Discounts for Angie's List Members
It was a very good experience overall. We recently purchased a home and knew that there was some seepage and dampness in the basement. I had similar work done on a home that I lived in before, so I knew what to expect and also what I was type of installation I was looking for. The system they install is great -- really top notch, and it SOLVES the problem. Its not fun money to spend, but it is definitely worth every penny in my mind. The initial quote we got from this company was a bit higher than their final estimate -- Something I knew about from reading other member's comments. Though they may not be the least expensive company out there, for the caliber of work they do, they offer a fair price. In fact, the price we ended up with was very comparable to their competitors (who offer similar products). The biggest pleasant surprise was the fact that they completed our project in a single day (an amazing feat when thinking about how much work was done). The crew was fantastic. They even allowed our small children to come down the basement with their own work belts on to "help." The only hiccup is that we did decide to pay the extra $500 for a battery back up (don't know if I would do that again) which has yet to be installed. They had said they would install it within the week, but I think they have forgotten. I haven't gotten around to calling them yet, so I am partly to blame. UPDATE -- 11/18/10. Have still not received the battery back up. Have made several calls to the company. Finally decided not to have it installed. Have been informed that they will refund the money. Still have not seen the money. Based on this, I would NEVER recommend this company. There is an equally competent company in our area who installs a similar system, and I would probably go with her if I had to do it again. I would hope she is more honest than this group.
Description of Work: Had drain tile and sump pump installed in interior of the basement. They jackhammered the perimeter of the entire basement, installed pipe below ground, refilled the area, and installed a sump pump.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
2.0
punctuality
5.0
$8,000
Alex M.
08/2009
5.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
The salesman that I dealt with was responsive and straight forward. He was always available to answer any questions as we got closer to the job starting. The workmen that arrived were professional and very capable. At the end of the job, a professional engineer came to inspect the work, recommended a few more things and the workmen did it on the spot at no cost. Out of all the companies we interviewed for this job, Aquaguard was the cheapest and most professional. Highly recommended!
Description of Work: They waterproofed about 20 feet of our basement from the inside.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,100
Stephen D.
08/2009
2.0
excavators, basement waterproofing, wells
+ 1 more
It went awful. Aquaguard came out to my property (a small 7-unit condo) to observe some recent water damage to the interior of a basement unit. They failed to arrive for that meeting, explaining that they had been calling a completely different telephone number than mine to try and ask for a reschedule. This should have been my first clue of what was to come. They rescheduled, and the estimator was apologetic and professional while observing the damage - even offering a discount there on the spot since we found them through Angie's List. They agreed to excavate a very narrow patch of dirt in order to re-waterproof the leaky wall. Per their request, I emailed them the current plat plan on file with the city (DC) and waited for them to obtain a permit to begin work. And waited, and waited. After almost a MONTH of being told that they were still waiting for the permit to clear, I decided to skip a step and call their permit expeditor myself. The permit expeditor confessed that she had made a huge error and delayed the permit from being issued, completely unbeknownst to AquaGuard. The permit finally gets issued, AquaGuard finally sends a work crew out (two days later than promised), they barely scoop one shovel of dirt, and pack up and leave after two days of doing zero work on site because they now decide that they cannot properly access the excavation area and insist on changing the scope of work to an interior sump pump. This means another 10 day delay. They finally show up to begin ripping out the basement concrete floor slab, and the crew works tirelessly into the late hours of the night attempting to get done as fast as possible - this is the one of two saving graces to this experience, that the workers did an exceptional job and worked as hard as their superiors demanded. The second saving grace is that AquaGuard replaced the water damaged drywall, studs, and trim and had it repainted for no additional fee to the original contract (which was for a more expensive exterior excavation anyway). As a final insult to injury, AquaGuard sent us a stern email asking where their second half of the contract fee was, depsite not having sent us an invoice for that fee as promised. The total construction was supposed to be completed two weeks from the first visit - it took TWO MONTHS. So, we will not use AquaGuard again for obvious reasons: their administration is horribly awry; they lack timely and appropriate communication with the client; they overpromise and underdeliver, even if trying to make up for it later; and they really left us in the lurch multiple times with no explanation. The workmanship appears ok but considering the entire experience, we will rate it only as "so far so good".
Description of Work: Ripped out about 25 square feet of basement concrete floor slab in order to install a underslab sump pump and drain line. Also removed existing drywall, studs, insulation, and wood base moulding and replaced in kind.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
3.0
value
4.0
professionalism
2.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
$5,300
Response from Aquaguard Waterproofing
The DC Government is extremely tough to obtain certain permits but we do pull permits on every site which our competition in most cases try to skip over this lawful procedure. Sometimes our permit procurement is quick, sometime it takes a lot of repetitive action to obtain but obtain them we do. We have various complaints on Angie's List due to time it takes to obtain a permit, we are also frustrated with the time and cost of obtaining a permit but we perform this function for the client for a fee which is really the responsibility of the customer. Our permit association is extremely efficient. Since we try to do the right thing we are receiving complaints but that is life. Thank you for your response. John E. Buchanan, CPA,GM, Owner
Nancy F.
08/2009
5.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
I have used them in the past for my home. I used them again for my rental property and they did a fantastic job. My row house was getting water in the old coal shoot. The inspector came out wrote up a quote and scheduled the work during the inspection. Since I am an investment broker I have very limited time to fix properties and he was very accomodating. The crew arrived and went right to work, the man in charge walked around with me and explained in detail the job specs. I deal with many contractors and this man knew his craft. The tenants are very happy and the job took only 2 days. Thanks again for a job well done Aquaguard. I highly recommend this contractor for all of your basement needs
Description of Work: Drainage system in a old row home. One sump pump, window drain and stair drain
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,391
SHERYL T.
08/2009
4.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
I did not use this company. The sales inspector was very personable, but he seemed to downplay other companies--which I really did not like. Especially because he stated that he was not going to talk about other companies, but then showed me information that was somewhat unfavorable about other waterproofing companies. He also arrived almost two hours late and then the sales pitch was very lengthy. I believe the intent was to be thorough, but it was a little too aggressive.
Description of Work: I was contracting for basement waterproofing services. Specifically they would have removed my existing floor around the front and side edges of my basement; and install a sump pump.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
3.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
MATT W.
07/2009
1.0
egress windows
+ -1 more
I signed a contract with AquaGuard to have an egress window (Bilco Scapewel) installed on 4/9/09. I was assured by their sales rep, JR Trundle, that we would be able to have the window installed prior to our newborn's birth as I didn?t want all of the noise going on with a sleeping newborn in the house. They charged my Amex for $2083.00 on 4/14/09. Subsequently, JR and I determined that we weren?t going to have the permits ready to have the window installed prior to our child's birth. So we locked in on another date: 5/28/09. I was told over the phone by JR Trundle that we had all of the necessary permits and we were good to go for the 28th. He also told me that someone would contact me 10 days prior to the install and then 3 days prior to the install to ensure everything was good to go. I never heard anything from anyone at AquaGuard?not JR?nobody. I didn?t hear anything from AquaGuard about the instillation at all until I called them the day before our window was supposed to be installed. That?s when I was told that the permits were, in fact, not secured. I was obviously upset. I asked to speak to a manager. The person I was speaking with (someone from their marketing dept) told me that the manager WOULD NOT TAKE MY CALL. I finally, got a call from JR later that same day. He apologized and said that the situation would be rectified. Weeks went by. Heard nothing from them. Finally, spoke with JR Trundle on the phone the first week of June. He assured me the window would be installed by the end of June. That didn?t happen. So I called JR again. He said (again) that all of the permits were good to go and we could install that week. I told JR I?d rather hold off ?til the following week as the forecast was calling for rain. JR said it would be fine if it were raining, whereas previously, he had been using the rain as yet another reason why the dates were being pushed back. So, JR (again) assured me that I would get the next available slot for the following week. He said he would call me with the exact date. He never called. I left a message with JR on June 30. Have heard nothing back from him. Left another message with JR on Thursday the 9th. Told him this was his last chance and if I didn?t hear from him by Friday with an install date (hopefully for the following week) the next communication he received from me would be from my attorney. Have not received any call back from JR or any other representative of AquaGuard. They've had over 2k of my money for 3 months. I?ve now had to consult with an attorney who will be sending them a demand letter this week.
Description of Work: I contracted to install an egress window on 4/9/2009 with Aquaguard Waterproofing The brand of the window was Bilco Scapwel.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
$2,083
Ray H.
06/2009
1.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
I contacted Aquaguard to obtain an estimate for work in my basement. A representative arrived on time, and provided a thorough explanation of what would be required to address my issues. He drafted up a written proposal. He asked if I wanted to move forward, and I indicated I was in the process of seeking other estimates from other companies. The representative then berated me for bothering to obtain other estimates, and implied I had not been very forthcoming with him, when I told him he was the first person to provide an estimate. I felt this personal attack on my character was unwarranted and I asked the gentleman to leave. Based solely on this gentleman's behavior, I will not be utilizing this company for services, or recommending it to anyone.
Description of Work: Estimate
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
Response from Aquaguard Waterproofing
We should never be unpleasant to the consumer. We have a sales training every week addressing these issue. We cannot control the rep. after he leave our premises but these kind of responses help us correct the errors. Thank You. John E. Buchanan, CPA,GM, Owner
Matthew D.
06/2009
1.0
basement waterproofing, drain pipe
+ 0 more
Call center people were great. The rest, well, read what I've written.
Description of Work: Called for an estimate for French Drains. First estimator was frankly quite rude and unprofessional. When AquaGaurd to called to follow up and I reported that, they were very apologetic and asked to let me meet with their "top" guy. I agreed and made sure I was home at the appointed time. He never showed.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
value
3.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
Dale C.
06/2009
5.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
They did exactly what they said they would do, their cost was exactly what the estimate was, the workers were very courteous, and they did a good job overall. We were very pleased with them. I got estimates from 4 providers - all off of Angie?s List - and Aquaguard were the least expensive of the group. I thought that by far they gave the best service during estimates and the follow through.
Description of Work: We had a leak in our basement and I used Aquaguard Waterproofing to work on that. They had to dig the entire front of our house and go in. I had a plumber come out and repair a pipe. They then put everything back and waterproofed the house.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,800
Stacey T.
05/2009
2.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
We were experiencing dampness and mildewy smell in the unfinished part of our basement. We called Aquaguard and several other companies. The one good thing I can say about Aquaguard- they were prompt in returning my call (within the hour). Appointment was made for several days later. In the meantime, several other companies called back. One guy was particularly helpful. He inquired about our type of foundation (cement block), and said that he only worked with poured concrete. However, he spent another ten minutes explaining what I could expect in cost, and what to look for when choosing a waterproofer. He specifically warned me against companies that do a high-pressure sales job. He said, "they will emphasize coming at a time when BOTH you and your husband will be there, etc." I laughed, b/c this was exactly what Aquaguard had done. He continued, "they will do a lengthy exam of your home, then give you a figure, and pressure you to sign. If you feel comfortable with them, hold off for a couple of days. You'll be AMAZED at how much they come down in price." His advice turned out to be spot-on. The Aquaguard guy came and spent over 2 hours explaining in great detail the problems he observed, recommending a french drain. He seemed knowledgeable, and had us almost convinced. I will say that it was comforting that Aquaguard has been operating under the same name for 20+ years (another thing the other guy said to watch out for-- waterproofers who change their business name don't have to stand by their warranty). He then gave us a quote that seemed high. We told him we'd get back to him. He instantly took it down $1500! Told him we still wanted other opinions. Two days later, we received a phone call from Aquaguard. The lady wanted to know how our experience was, then said that the General Manager himself wanted to come out, and could offer us significantly lower pricing b/c we were Angie's List customers. She offered a time for the following Monday. Since I was driving and didn't have my calendar, I asked her to have the GM call me that day to confirm. He showed up without calling and took me by surprise. I said something about having forgotten, to which he responded, "Women tend to do that." Excuse me?! On that note, he looked around, and told us that ours was one of the top five worst cases he'd ever seen- far worse than his tech had thought. Since we've never had any standing water, my husband questioned this. GM responded condescendingly, "Do I NEED to take the level out again?" He said it was so bad, and the necessary work so extensive, that he wasn't comfortable giving us a quote (although he said to expect around $20K). He recommended we have one of HIS engineers come out to do a full report- to the tune of $1700. Needless to say, we did not go with Aquaguard. We found another structural engineer who said our problems were minor and easily fixed w/ a dehumidifier, gutter repairs and some external drainage landscaping.
Description of Work: No services were performed. We were too disturbed by the high-pressure sales job and gross unprofessionalism of the General Manager.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
MaryBeck D.
05/2009
4.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
They did the entire job in one day. They scheduled it during one of their breaks on another job. They showed up in the morning and work on it till they are done. They cleaned up real nice after they were done. No mess in the basement, no mess in the yard and no mess in the driveway. Everything was completely squared away. They were very efficient.
Description of Work: I hired Aquaguard to waterproof my basement. Only because they came down on there initial estimate of $12,000.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
3.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000
Charlene T.
11/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing, wells, drain pipe
+ 1 more
The estimator seemed very knowledgeable. They called within a couple days to see if I wanted them to do the work or not. They offered me a discount. The crew did a nice job. They cleaned up after themselves. They got the job done quickly and efficiently.
Description of Work: I hired Auquaguard Waterproofing to completely waterproof my entire basement. They also installed a drainage system and a sump pump.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,800
ELAINE M.
11/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing, drain pipe
+ 0 more
They were absolutely fabulous. There was nothing I didn't like. When I called Angie's List, I had several different people to research. I called them all and one company actually recommended Aquaguard to me. The manager came out and gave me the estimate and told me what they were going to do. They came out when they said they were going to. They did everything they said they were going to do. When there was a misunderstanding with the extent of the work that was supposed to be done, I called them and they apologized and sent someone out very quickly to come and do the work. They were thorough professional and considerate of me and my home. They really went out of their way for me. It really was wonderful. When it came time to pay, I paid more down than we had originally agreed. When the lady who actually does the books, found that the number was different, called me to make sure that it was correct and I wasn't being overcharged. I appreciated that honesty. I would recommend them to anybody, anytime. This was the best company that I've worked with in a long time!
Description of Work: I had water coming in down into the basement area. They came in and dug a trench and put a drain system in. They put in a new sump pump and replaced one. They put a drain outside my door and a drain in the window well.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
DAVID B.
11/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing, wells, drain pipe
+ 1 more
Salesman, friendly pleasant and knowledgeable, Initial estimate to high, willing to negotiate. Met second time with manager (James) very helpful. Original estimate of time needed 1 1/2 - 2 days with a crew of 3. Crew of 5 showed up right on time and completed all work in 6 hours. Left everything neat and clean. Very efficient. I hope that this actually works but won't really know until the next major rainstorm. I liked their guarantee, and hope never to need to use it.
Description of Work: Installed new french drain and sump pump.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,700
Rochelle D.
11/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing, wells, drain pipe
+ 1 more
I was worried that AquaGuard wouldn't do the work for me because the worksite was 100 miles away from Washington (in Luray, VA to be exact). But they promptly scheduled an appointment and the estimator, Dennis, arrived right on schedule. He spent 2 hours with me measuring, assessing, digging, etc. to figure out what exactly the condition of the building was and how best to approach solving the water issues. The only glitch in the whole business came in actually scheduling the work; Dennis gave me a target window for getting the work done but I had to call 2 or 3 times to actually get on the company's calendar. But after that the crew came out on the day they promised, did the job very professionally, did it cleanly and finished up in two days' time, as promised. The crew leader, Chito, called me a couple times from the worksite to make sure they were doing everything I wanted, and then again when it was all over. It was a tough job because the crew had to be imaginative in hoisting water tanks off the floor so the wall covering could be installed and the new cement basement poured. When I saw the place after the work was done I was stunned at the difference. It is no longer a bleak damp hole in the ground. It is a clean, dry usable room!
Description of Work: I have a hand-dug root cellar lined with cement block that had never been sealed. There was no floor but the clay ground. The room was so damp it was impossible to store anything down there and water was constantly seeping into the room through the walls and up through the floor. I despaired of ever being able to remedy the wetness. AquaGuard came in, assessed the problem, offered two options: digging out the building from the outside and sealing it, or installing an interior French drain and sump pump along with some unique wall covering that would catch and direct any seepage into the drain and then pump it out. In addition, they would pour a new cement floor to seal the clay floor. This second option was considerably cheaper and it works like a charm! The basement is bone dry now and I can store things down there without worry about mold, mildew, or flooding.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,930
Benjamin B.
11/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing, wells
+ 0 more
They are very thorough explaining how intrusive the process will be. You have to be prepared for a complete upheaval of your basement and the aftermath. They are professionals and of the 3 companies I talked with -- Aquaguard was clearly the best one.
Description of Work: Installed a sump pump system.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$9,500
Robert N.
11/2008
4.0
egress windows
+ -1 more
We signed the contract to have 2 egress windows installed at the end of March 2008. At that time we made it clear that the work needed to be done by mid June as we had an au pair who would be living with us as of July 1, 2008. The salesman assured us that we could expect to have work begin by mid May. Because of delays in Aquaguards building permit preparation and the fact that this past spring was a wet one, work did not begin until approximately mid June. The windows were installed in the nick of time and we were able to get someone to repair the drywall but we only made our deadline by the skin of our teeth. The paint was literally just drying as our new au pair was moving in. The last hitch came as I checked the Montgomery County Maryland Web site only to find that the there had never been a final inspection done on the job. I called Aquaguard and James and Dennis took care of the inspection and we passed our final on Thursday of last week 10/29/08. I must say that I was generally pleased and found all of the people I encountered to be pleasant and helpful.
Description of Work: Aquaguard installed 2, 48 inch by 48 inch egress windows in our basement.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$13,000
Nancy F.
10/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing, drain pipe
+ 0 more
We are not just satisfied with Aquaguard's service but astonished. When the inspector arrived at our home he was not pushy like other companies we had out but very informative. Courteous and thorough come to mind. He walked with my mother and I, showing us pictures and answering all of our questions. He also informed us about payment options available that would fit our budget. We have lived with this problem for a very long time and want to sell the house, but know we needed to fix the water in our basement first. When it came time to have the work done, the crew that arrived was first rate. They were just as courteous as the inspector and very efficient. We were amazed that after the job was finished, our white carpet in our basement was still white! The crew was so respectful in my mom's home. They did everything to keep this dirty, muddy job clean. We could not have asked for more. We can now breathe a sigh of relief and really enjoy our dry basement. Thank you Aquaguard for repairing our home.
Description of Work: Installed a drainage pipe under our basement floor to a sump pump. Three window wells and a back-up system.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$11,568
Fran B.
10/2008
2.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
Getting the estimate was a terrible experience. Two guys in suits came over and spent 1-1/2 hours looking at the basement and explaining the work and talking about how great they were. They kept telling us we'd get special treatment because we got their name from Angie's list. They gave us a high price and said they'd call the manager and he would lower it. After the call, they lowered the price by about 25%. They said negative things about other companies, but neglected to tell us that their company had just been bought by someone else and things were changing (something I found out later). Overall, I'd say they insulted our intelligence by making the phone call to the "manager".
Description of Work: French drain and sump pumps for a basement with a water seepage problem. ($10,000.)
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Response from Aquaguard Waterproofing
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MEMBER FELT THIS WAY ABOUT OUR COMPANY. WE HAVE A FIXED PRICE LIST AND OFFER ANGIE'S LIST MEMBERS A DISCOUNT, BUT NOT 25% AS WAS STATED. WE HAVE MANY SYSTEMS AVAILABLE WITH MANY OPTIONS; WE WILL WORK WITH OUR FIELD INSPECTOR ON EXPLAINING EACH SYSTEM PROPERLY. AQUAGUARD HAS NOT BEEN BOUGHT BY SOMEONE ELSE, IT IS THE SAME QUALITY COMPANY SINCE 1990 – SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER COMPANY GAVE THE MEMBER SOME BAD INFORMATION. WE TAKE EVERY COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND THESE COMMENTS HELP US BECOME BETTER AND BETTER EACH DAY. JOHN BRYANT GENERAL MANAGER
WENDY G.
10/2008
4.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
We had a window-well sump pump and a couple of wall cracks in our unfinished business that would leak when it rained really hard. The sump pump would sometimes not work and I'd end up with an inch of water in the basement. After this happening one too many times, I decided something had to be done. I contacted three companies and AquaGuard was the first one I interviewed. I was immediately put at ease by Sam Weisgal, the inspector they sent out. He also called me before he showed up to let me know he was running late and then called again when he was on his way. Sam gave me the history of the company, showed me certification, explained how he came to work for the company and assessed the basement and area around the house. We then sat and talked about what AquaGuard could do to help remedy my problem. He spent a lot of time showing me how their system worked and how it was different from other companies. He answered my many questions and I never once felt I was being pushed into anything. I had two other companies to get quotes from, but after visiting with the second and third company, and feeling like the reps were condescending to me and their products weren't as good - I knew I was going with AquaGuard. The day of the repairs, the team showed up on time, helped move some heavy objects I couldn't move myself, suggested some easier ways to work with getting the equipment and stones into the basement and made the experience pretty easy on me. From the first meeting to the last, AquaGuard came through with flying colors. They were more expensive than the other companies I interviewed, but the experience I had with them was well worth it.
Description of Work: They installed a drainage system in my basement that would stop the water that was coming in via wall leaks from running onto the basement floor. They installed an in-ground sump pump and a drain in the outside window well to prevent water from backing up into the well and seeping through the window. They dug up the concrete, laid the drainage pipe, filled in with stones and then filled in with new concrete. The team worked fast to finish the job in one day, they helped move some heavy items for me and they did a great job of cleaning up the basement and the yard.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,000
RICHARD T.
10/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
They were here on time. When they came here the sales man took his off shoes, they explained what would be going on. They fixed the problem the first time. They made sure that dust wouldn't come up the steps, the used quieter tools so that they wouldn't disturb us up stairs. They did exactly what they said they were going to do, on time, and clean.
Description of Work: I hired them to fix a leak that was coming in from the outside.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,600
Michael A.
10/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
It went very well. I was quite impressed with the work crew's efficiency. The foreman, Joe, had several tricky problems to solve relating to the layout of my house, and he did so with confidence and effectiveness. The overall result exceeded my expectations. They were able to install the window drops, despite a number of other pipes that were in the way. They were able to install the basin for the sump pump right where I was hoping they could. They were able to install the outflow pipe in such a way that it is almost invisible. Finally, though I was expecting that they would need to demolish more of the drywall in order to install the waffle board, they managed to keep the damage to a minimum, thus saving me money. And though the concrete was harder than expected and caused delay, the crew was willing to stay until 7:30 p.m. to finish the job in one day, as promised. And since the project was completed, we have had a few big storms...with NO water getting in! As for the price, given that I decided to go "standby," they were willing to give me a 12% discount! And throughout the process, James at AquaGuard was always there to answer my questions, no matter how silly.
Description of Work: AquaGuard installed a waterproofing system in my finished basement. The main problem was water leaking into my office/guest room. AquaGuard installed a trench system, which included a sump pump and a really nice batter backup unit. They also installed two "window drops" to address water that had been coming in through the partially underground basement windows.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,000
Steven G.
10/2008
1.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
AG failed at every stage. JR spent about 2 hours at my house in Sept. Most of that time he spent telling me why AG was better than all the competitors. He frequently named competitors and talked very negatively about them. STRIKE ONE. He touted the Angie's List award that his company won and claimed that nobody else in DC area had won one. This is false. Check for yourself. STRIKE TWO. He showed me data about the number of complaints AG has received. I looked this information up on the BBB after he left, and his information was both incorrect and outdated. STRIKE THREE. In fact, I'm not sure where his information came from, as it did not correlate with that of the BBB. He showed me complaint data on all of the competitors to compare. I kept repeating to him that I wasn't interesting in his competitors, just AG. He tried to hard sell me on a price. He quoted me $5,754, then quickly reduced it to $4587, but then said I had only one week to accept at this price. I told him I would think about it. He questioned me. At the end of the contract, it says, "Please rate our representative for an automatic $50 savings." I was told if I marked "Yes" on all 4 questions, I'd get $50 off. I'm not sure where or how this information is used. Finally, before JR left, I asked for one thing. I simply asked for 4 or 5 names/numbers of people in my area who used AG recently so that I could call them. JR said he'd give me one thousand names, that's how confident he was. I said, "No, just four or five names are sufficient." I even wrote down my email address for him, so that there would be no confusion. He promised to email me the next day. He never emailed, EVER. STRIKE FOUR. One month passed and I got a call from AG. I told them I never received an email with the referrals I requested. He took down my email-I had him repeat it-and said he'd email them to me right away. He never did. STRIKE FIVE. He also said he could save me a lot of money because of some economies of scale as they were doing some work in my area. This sounded dubious. They wanted to send their most senior/head inspector over to my place. I reluctantly set up an appointment for a day in mid Oct, between 12 and 2PM. I rushed home and waited. I didn't hear from anyone, so at 11:30AM, I called to confirm. The inspector canceled, but nobody bothered to tell me. STRIKE SIX. I rescheduled for 6-7 PM. Again, nobody bothered to show up and nobody called me. STRIKE SEVEN. To recap, AG did the following: 1) High pressure sales with "one week only price"; 2) Failed to provide any referrals after I asked THREE TIMES; 3) Failed TWICE to show up for an inspection and did not call; 4) Provided conflicting permit info; 5) Wasted my time. How a company represents itself, from sales, to customer relations, matters. I'm sure AG will respond to this posting, as that is their m.o. I'm curious as to their explanations, as I never got ANY.
Description of Work: Let me start this review by stating that AquaGuard ("AG") gave me numerous reasons NOT to hire them and zero reasons to hire them. I have had a minor water issue on the back wall of my basement, which is made of concrete block. I called AG and JR Trundle, a "senior inspector" came to my house in early Sept., 2008. He described the procedure that he guaranteed would solve my issues-dig a trench along the back perimeter wall using a jackhammer, drill holes in the block to relieve the pressure, lay down small stone, put in perforated plastic pipe, cement it over to cover, lead the pipe to the corner into a sump with pump, then discharge the water out to the back. He said it would take one day, from start to finish, and that AG would perform this work with full-time employees, not subcontractors. This is the exact same procedure, more or less, that all of the other basement waterproofers do. Some may use slightly different materials, perforated pipe, or different stone, or plastic stone, or a different sump pump. However, each company that inspected my wall proposed the same solution, more or less. The work that was recommended appeared to be adequate, based upon research that I did and from JR's explanations of why the water was seeping in from the back wall. However, how AG treated me, as a potential customer was unacceptable. Further, I never received any clarification on the issue of the permit required. I was told a permit for this work would cost $700, which was included in the price, and that this was firm. I was never told what type of permit. I was told it was so high because they used an expedited service. When I called the county, I was told that, in the event a permit was even needed, it was approx. $65 and that I could get one myself that day by simply showing up in person. For numerous reasons listed below, I did not hire AquaGuard.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
Response from Aquaguard Waterproofing
WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK THIS MEMBER LEFT. WE DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, REGARDLESS WE FAILED TO EARN THIS MEMBER'S TRUST AND FEEDBACK LIKE THIS ASSISTS US IN BECOMING BETTER. A COMPANY AS LARGE AS OURS DOES MAKE A HUMAN ERROR, BUT WE ALWAYS MUST STRIVE TO BECOME BETTER. OUR GOAL FOR THE 20 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS IS PROVIDE THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE INDUSTRY, IT THIS CASE WE DID NOT. WE WILL REVIEW THE POINTS OF THIS NOTE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND IT WILL MAKE US BETTER IN EVER PHASE. THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS JOHN BRYANT GENERAL MANAGER
Matthew C.
10/2008
3.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
The estimator who showed up was quite knowledgeable. He used some high-pressure sales tactics, which I'm not really fond of, but he did know his product and what should be done. He was polite and came by the next day to deliver and go over the contract. First off, they were late. When they weren't there 25 minutes after the half hour window they gave I called up the main office. I was greeted with incredulity that I called since they weren't "even a half hour late." They finally called up 20 minutes later and said they'd be yet another hour. In the end, they showed up over two hours after the start of their half hour window. Not a promising start. The crew proceeded to work straight through, from about 10:30 A.M. to around 6:00 P.M., completing a big job in one day. Unfortunately, they didn't patch the wall cracks like was agreed and so had to come back the next day. They also offered to leave the dirt they excavated from the basement behind to help me regrade the property. After being assured that all the concrete would be removed, leaving only dirt, I agreed and was thankful for the service. Unfortunately, I had to leave for the day and when I returned (after they had left), I found chunks of concrete, both large and small, throughout the pile. Now I'm left with a useless pile of trash. It'd be good to fill a giant hole, but not for regrading near the surface. Finally, part of the contract was that the head of the firm was supposed to examine cracks in the walls to see if they required structural stabilization. When I called up to ask about his report, not one person I talked to knew anything about it. The foreman said he didn't have a clue what I was talking about and that I had to ask the chief. I called up the company and went through multiple people who had no clue about what I wanted. Finally, the head of the company called me back and assured me he was totally on top of the situation, that he'd talked to the foreman throughout the process (which was odd since the foreman didn't know what I was talking about), and that everything was ok. He admitted that he hadn't personally seen the cracks, but that he didn't think anything was wrong. He agreed to go on record as saying that there was no structural problems, and I let the matter lie at that. The whole process, however, did not instill great confidence in either the competence of the firm. The base work seemed to have been completed in a professional manner at a very good price. I just wouldn't look to Aquaguard to do anything beyond the basic waterproofing service.
Description of Work: Basement waterproofing performed: Jackhammered near the wall, installed a drain system, drilled weep holes in the walls, covered the system with concrete, and then installed two sump pumps. Also patched two wall cracks.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
5.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
2.0
$9,000
DARLENE L.
09/2008
5.0
basement waterproofing
+ -1 more
They did beautiful work! The basement has been bone-dry since they came out, and there is a lifetime warranty! They were really nice to work with!
Description of Work: They did a lot of work, digging, concreting, etc in order to waterproof our basement.
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Service Categories
Basement Waterproofing,
Foundation Repair,
Egress Windows,
Excavating
FAQ
Aquaguard Waterproofing is currently rated 4.1 overall out of 5.
Monday: 8:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 PM - 2:30 AM
Aquaguard Waterproofing accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,Financing Available,MasterCard,Visa
Aquaguard Waterproofing offers the following services: Residential and commercial egress window installation, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, sump pump, battery back up systems, excavating, stairwell & drains. Special Discounts for Angie's List Members